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Breland (musician)

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Breland
Breland at Daytona International Speedway in 2023
Breland at Daytona International Speedway in 2023
Background information
Birth nameDaniel Gerard Breland
Born (1995-07-18) July 18, 1995 (age 29)
Burlington Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2019–present
Labels
Websitebrelandmusic.com

Daniel Gerard Breland[2] (born July 18, 1995), known mononymously as Breland (/ˈbriːlənd/ BREE-lənd; stylized in all caps),[3] is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer of a hybrid of country, rap, R&B, gospel, and soul music. His 2019 debut single, "My Truck", rose to prominence the following year after gaining popular attention via social media, reaching No. 26 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, and was remixed with Sam Hunt before being certified platinum for sales of one million units as of January 2021.[4][5]

Breland has so far released two EPs on Bad Realm/Atlantic Records, and his music been streamed on Spotify over 150 million times. He released his first full-length album, Cross Country, in September 2022.[6]

Early life and education

[edit]

Breland grew up in Burlington Township, New Jersey,[7] the son of ordained ministers Tonya and Gerard Breland, who filled their home with gospel music.[8] At age 14, he entered the Peddie School, a New Jersey boarding school, and was exposed for the first time to secular music in the hip-hop, R&B, country and pop genres.[7] His favorites were ’70s soul artists such as Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder.[9]

Breland started writing his own songs, a mix of styles he was listening to and liked.[10] He turned down admission to New York University's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music to study business at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. While there, he sang and arranged a cappella with a group called the Phantoms, and was a Residential Advisor.

Musical career

[edit]

Breland began his career as a professional songwriter while at Georgetown, and in his second year, he met rapper Chinx (Chinx Drugz), an associate of French Montana. One night at Chinx's Far Rockaway, New York home, the rapper left Breland working on music to go perform at his show. He never came back, as Chinx was murdered.

After graduation, he moved to Atlanta. While working a job selling language technology during the day, he wrote music usually until late into the morning hours. Breland taught himself how to produce music on Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and FL Studio. With approximately 2,000 songs in around five years,[11] he made placements with artists such as Trey Songz[8][10] and wrote nearly half of the tracks on The Golden Child, the debut from Def Jam Recordings R&B artist YK Osiris.[9]

Breland often posted his original material on Instagram. He started the #BrelandVerseChallenge on the app to engage his fans during COVID-19 quarantine. He ended up giving two of his Instagram followers their first major-label writing credit on the song "In the Woulds", an R&B and pop song featuring Chase Rice and Lauren Alaina, two country music artists.[12] However, newcomer country rap artist Rvshvd was originally intended to be featured on "In the Woulds" before Chase Rice was added to the final version, despite this, he still received songwriting credits for it.

In September 2019, he wrote the song "My Truck", about the truck culture found in rural America. The music was a blend of hip hop and country music and when he posted the song on Instagram, he received a great response, and realized he had found his niche with the country-trap sub-genre.

"I just felt like it was time for people to change their perspective on what country music is and what country music can be, because there is an audience of country music listeners under 30 who believe Black Lives Matter," he told the Associated Press. "My Truck" reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[13]

In an interview on the television program Extra at the time, Breland termed his musical hybrid sound as cross country,[14] while most media categorizes him as country-trap.

Signing with Bad Realm/Atlantic Records, Breland signed with SALXCO Management,[15] and released a remix of "My Truck" that features country music's Sam Hunt.[16] "My Truck" has over 2.6 million U.S. streams, 2,000 downloads sold and 2.8 million radio audience impressions, according to Nielsen Audio,[17] and hit No. 1 on Spotify's Viral 50 Chart in February.[18]

In May 2020, Breland's self-titled EP was released by Bad Realm/Atlantic Records. The music crossed genres of country, hip hop, R&B, and pop with songs like the singles "My Truck" and "Horseride", as well as fan favorites "Hot Sauce" and "In the Woulds." Producers included Sam Sumser (Lizzo, Jason Derulo), Sean Small (Lizzo, Usher), Charlie Handsome (Post Malone, Kanye West, Khalid), as well as country singers Mitchell Tenpenny and Walker Hayes. The EP charted at No. 48 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.[19]

The EP Rage & Sorrow followed with a June 2020 release. Breland's theme on the EP was derived from the racial unrest prompted by the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, and the killing of Breonna Taylor. "Intro" features a line from the 1960s blues song "Tobacco Road", and has a rock guitar. Other songs include "Real Men Don't Cry", and "A Message". Producers include Carson Thatcher (Parson James, Andy Grammer), Brian Kennedy, and Rob Persaud.[18]

Breland and Keith Urban co-wrote two songs for Urban's September 2020 album The Speed of Now Part 1, including the song "Out the Cage" that has Breland adding vocals, and Nile Rodgers's on rhythm guitar, and the track "Soul Food".[20]

In September 2020, Breland joined Apple Music Country as an on-air host for his own radio show called Land of the Bre.[21]

Breland released a brand new collaboration with Thomas Rhett "Praise the Lord" in March 2022.[22] His debut album Cross Country was released on September 9, 2022. In August 2023, Breland released a new single, "Cowboy Don't".[23]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[24] 		US
Country
[25]
Cross Country 143 15

Extended plays

[edit]
List of EPs, with selected chart positions, showing other relevant details
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Country
[19] 		US
Heat
[27]
Breland
  • Released: May 22, 2020
  • Label: Bad Realm/Atlantic
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 48 15
Rage & Sorrow
  • Released: June 19, 2020[28]
  • Label: Bad Realm/Atlantic
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 — —
Breland & Friends: Vol. 1 (Live)
  • Released: January 26, 2024[29]
  • Label: Bad Realm/Atlantic
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 — —

Singles

[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing other relevant details
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[30] 		US Country Songs
[31] 		US Country Airplay
[32] 		US
R&B
/HH
[33] 		CAN
[34] 		UK
[35]
"My Truck" 2019 92 24 — 46 95 — Breland
"Horseride" 2020 — — — — — —
"Cross Country"
(solo or featuring Mickey Guyton) 		2021 — — — — — — Cross Country
"Throw It Back"
(featuring Keith Urban) 		— 38 — — —[A] —
"High Horse"
(with Nelly and Blanco Brown)[38] 		— —[B] — — — — Heartland
"Praise the Lord"
(featuring Thomas Rhett) 		2022 100 21 — — — — Cross Country
"Natural" —[C] 34 — — — —
"Told You I Could Drink"
(featuring Lady A) 		—[D] 28 — — — —
"For What It's Worth" —[E] 28 52 — — —
"Cowboy Don't" 2023 — — — — — —[F]
[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[44] 		US Country Songs
[45] 		US Country Airplay
[46] 		CAN
[47] 		CAN Country
[48]
"Beers on Me"
(Dierks Bentley featuring Breland and Hardy) 		2021 40 5 1 61 2
  • RIAA: Platinum[5]
 Non-album singles
"3 (ESPN+ UFC 264 Anthem)"
(Scott Storch featuring Breland) 		2021 — — — — —

Notes

  1. ^ "Throw It Back" did not enter the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, but peaked at number 42 on the Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales chart.[37]
  2. ^ "High Horse" did not enter the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, but peaked at number 15 on the Country Digital Song Sales chart.[39]
  3. ^ "Natural" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 18 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[40]
  4. ^ "Told You I Could Drink" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number eight on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[41]
  5. ^ "For What It's Worth" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[42]
  6. ^ "Cowboy Don't" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 89 on the UK Official Singles Sales Chart.[43]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

CMT Music Awards

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 "Cross Country" Breakthrough Video of the Year Nominated
[49]
"Friendship Train" (with Gladys Knight and Mickey Guyton) CMT Performance of the Year Nominated
"Ride wit Me" (with Nelly, Kane Brown and Blanco Brown) Nominated

GMA Dove Awards

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 "Sunday"[A]
(Koryn Hawthorne) 		Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year Pending
[50]

Guest appearances

[edit]
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Year Title Artist(s) Album
2020 "Ol Girl Interlude"[51] DJ Luke Nasty Highway Music 2
"Out the Cage" Keith Urban, Nile Rodgers The Speed of Now Part 1
2021 "Miles"[52] Tiera Tiera EP
"All I See"[53] Gary LeVox One on One EP
"Somebody" Jimmie Allen, Lathan Warlick Bettie James Gold Edition
2022 "Shared Walls" Tenille Townes Masquerades EP
2023 "Inhale/Exhale AIR"[54] Shania Twain Queen of Me (Royal Edition)

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Lake was credited as a co-writer on "Sunday" by Koryn Hawthorne.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Breland". June 7, 1965.
  2. ^ Aderoju, Darlene (April 21, 2021). "Keith Urban, Breland and Nile Rodgers Release New 'Out the Cage' Music Video: 'You Can't Break Me'". People Magazine. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  3. ^ BRELAND & Friends: 2023 Confessionals – via YouTube.
  4. ^ Dowling, Marcus K. (January 27, 2021). "Breland's "My Truck" Goes Platinum But He's Not The Only One Singing About Trucks". CMT News. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "American certifications – Breland". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  6. ^ "BRELAND's Debut Album 'Cross Country' Coming This Summer". March 8, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Derfner, James. "Daniel Breland ’13 Visits Peddie", The Peddie News, October 27, 2022. Accessed December 18, 2022. "In the midst of a whirlwind tour for his highly anticipated debut album, Cross Country, Daniel Breland ’13 returned to the Peddie campus in September to surprise current seniors with a meet and greet.... This marks the Burlington, New Jersey native’s second visit to campus after his now-platinum single, 'My Truck,' exploded on TikTok in 2019 and turned Breland into an overnight sensation."
  8. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (May 20, 2020). "Breland Is Country. Breland Is Hip-Hop. Can Breland Go Pop?". New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Corry, Kristin (July 30, 2020). "Breland's Ambitious Country Rap Is More Than a Trend". Vice Magazine. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Seabrook III, Robby (June 24, 2020). "THE BREAK PRESENTS: BRELAND". XXL Magazine. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  11. ^ Dukes, Billy (September 13, 2022). "Breland Reveals His Secret for Getting A-List Collaborators". Taste of Country. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  12. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (July 2020). "Breland's New Country-Rap Road". Rolling Stone. p. 86.
  13. ^ Hall, Kristin M. "Country music reckons with racial stereotypes and its future". Associated Press. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  14. ^ "Breland Talks Genre-Bending Music and 'Cross Country'". Extra TV. September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  15. ^ "THE B-SIDE Breland (Bad Realm)". Hits Magazine. April 27, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  16. ^ "The 50 Best Songs of 2020 (So Far): Staff Picks". Billboard. June 10, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  17. ^ Zellner, Xander (March 13, 2020). "Country-Trap Singer Breland Is Crafting a New Sound With 'My Truck': Emerging Artists Spotlight". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  18. ^ a b Turner, Rianna (June 20, 2020). "Genre-bending Artist Breland Emerges As A New Voice in Music for the Black Lives Matter Movement". Forbes. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Top Country Albums: July 4, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  20. ^ "GUILTY PLEASURES". Associated Press. September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  21. ^ Norris, Rebeccq (August 23, 2020). "Apple Music Launches Country Radio Shows with Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line & More". Country Living. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  22. ^ "Breland and Thomas Rhett's new song "Praise The Lord" - Hi Buzzer". March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "Cowboy Don't - Single by Breland". Apple Music. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  24. ^ @billboardcharts (September 19, 2022). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/2)" (Tweet). Retrieved September 20, 2022 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "Top Country Albums: Week of September 24, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  26. ^ "Cross Country by BRELAND". Apple Music. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  27. ^ "Top Heatseekers Albums: June 6, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  28. ^ "Rage & Sorrow – Single by BRELAND". Apple Music.
  29. ^ "BRELAND & Friends: Vol. 1 (Live) - EP by BRELAND". Apple Music. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  30. ^ Peaks on the Hot 100:
  31. ^ * "My Truck": "Hot Country Songs: February 22, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  32. ^ "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  33. ^ "My Truck": "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: June 27, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  34. ^ "My Truck": "Canadian Hot 100: May 9, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  35. ^ "Breland | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  36. ^ "Canadian certifications – Breland". Music Canada. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  37. ^ "Canadian Digital Singles Sales Chart: June 18, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  38. ^ "Nelly Details Country Project Heartland; Shares First Single "High Horse"". HipHop-N-More. August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  39. ^ "Country Digital Song Sales: August 21, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  40. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of July 2, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  41. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of September 3, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  42. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of September 24, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  43. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100 on 10/13/2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  44. ^ "Dierks Bentley Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  45. ^ "Dierks Bentley Chart History: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  46. ^ "Dierks Bentley Chart History: Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  47. ^ "Dierks Bentley Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  48. ^ "Dierks Bentley Chart History: Canada Country". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  49. ^ "CMT Music Awards Nominations: Kane Brown Leads Field, but First-Timers Abound". March 16, 2022.
  50. ^ "2022 Winners | The 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards". GMA Dove Awards. August 10, 2022. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  51. ^ "Highway Music 2 by DJ Luke Nasty".
  52. ^ "Tiera & BRELAND Collaborate on Breezy New Love Song, 'Miles'". February 16, 2021.
  53. ^ "One on One - EP by Gary LeVox".
  54. ^ Queen Of Me (Royal Edition), April 28, 2023, retrieved April 27, 2023
[edit]
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